First Homeowners Now Living In The Lauren

Settlements commence as finishing touches continues, with grand opening festivities of the seven-story luxury condominium scheduled for late July.

The initial group of homeowners are now living within The Lauren Residences, a seven-story luxury condominium with a limited collection of twenty-nine units, located in downtown Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland. Positioned at the intersection of Woodmont Avenue and Hampden Lane and co-developed by 1788 Holdings, LLC and Persimmon Capital Partners, over one-third of the building’s units have been sold with several residents moving into the building over the past week.

Finishing touches to the interior and exterior are expected to continue at The Lauren Residences through the end of July, culminating with a grand opening celebration event anticipated to take place at the end of the month. Additional owners will continue to take occupancy of their homes during this period.

“We welcome the inaugural set of owners that have patiently awaited establishing homes at The Lauren and who will now begin to enjoy the attractive lifestyle and location offered by this project,” stated Larry J. Goodwin, Principal, 1788 Holdings. “Our team has established protocols to ensure the safety and comfort of these new homeowners and visitors, as we work to complete the remaining construction elements through mid-summer. We remain extremely satisfied with the current sales pace which have occurred during the pre-delivery stage, and anticipate accelerated activity now that prospective buyers can now see, touch and experience finished residences.”

Condominium sales are being exclusively handled by McWilliams|Ballard. The former sales office located across the street has been shuttered, and a new on-site sales gallery and model residence are now open for appointments and tours of The Lauren and its remaining condominium residences. For sales and/or tour information, please contact McWilliams|Ballard Vice President Roger Cornell at (301) 658-6051.

A granite facade with oversized balconies highlights the exterior of The Lauren, punctuated by a five-story glass curtain wall with backlighting that glows at night. The two-story lobby is adorned with a floor-to-ceiling glass sculpture that, given its visibility from the streets surrounding the residential project, will serve as an iconic landmark in downtown Bethesda. Both the curtain wall and the sculpture were custom-designed and manufactured in Portland, Oregon by Savory Studios which focuses on the fabrication and installation of specialized architectural pieces.

Many of the condominium homes feature direct access from private elevators; nine-foot ceiling heights; a Control 4 home automation system that enables smart phone and tablet control of the thermostat, speakers and window shades; vented fireplaces, thick slab natural stone countertops and a high-end fixture and appliance package featuring Wolf, Thermador and SubZero appliances.

Spa-style master bathrooms are equipped with natural stone flooring and tiling along the walls, an over-sized soaking tub, ceiling-mounted rain shower heads, Waterworks fixtures and illuminated mirrors embedded with high definition television sets.

The Lauren features private rooftop terrace living spaces for select units that range from 500-1,000 square feet, providing residences access to outdoor living in an urban setting in the heart of Bethesda Row. Five private guest suites ranging in size from 595 to 695 square feet are also available for purchase with select units.

Owners will have access to a 1,500 square foot alcove called “The Onyx Club” on the garden level that is outfitted with a private climate-controlled wine storage for each residence, as well as a large-screen television, separate bar, catering kitchen and multiple seating areas that are suitable for a variety of functions. The Lauren also features an underground parking garage with valet service, 24/7 concierge and a fully-equipped fitness center.

The concierge amenity will focus on providing personal assistance services such as grocery delivery and house cleaning, as well as event planning, travel arrangements and leisure and entertainment reservations. “Our Indigo Concierge service at The Lauren has been designed to become a virtual extension of the resident and to anticipate their individual needs,” stated Michael Snyder of Persimmon Capital Partners. “This can best be demonstrated by a resident to building staff ratio that will remain at approximately 5 to 1, to achieve an unprecedented level of service that focuses on improving every aspect of the resident’s daily lifestyle.”

The Lauren was designed by Robert M. Swedroe Architects & Planners, a Miami-based firm that has also created residential projects for The Trump Group, Turnberry Associates, WCI Communities and Coscan. Representative local projects include the Parc Somerset in Chevy Chase and the Kennedy-Warren in Washington, D.C. Akseizer Design Group, based in Alexandria, VA, handled the interior design work.

1788 Holdings, LLC is a Bethesda-based real estate investment company with a focus in the Washington, D.C. and suburban Maryland region. The company’s capabilities include the acquisition, development and strategic oversight of commercial office, residential and industrial properties including boutique residential properties. For additional information, visit www.1788holdings.com

Persimmon Capital Partners is a diversified alternative investment company focused on direct, private investments primarily equity, real estate and alternative classes. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and was founded in 2008. For additional information, visit www.persimmoncap.com

McWilliams|Ballard is a Washington, DC based real estate sales and marketing firm that specializes in the sales and marketing of new condominium, townhome and mixed-use communities. During its 20 year history, McWilliams|Ballard has worked in over 12 states, creating partnerships with developers and builders to provide sales and marketing solutions from project inception to the final closed sale.